Monday in Dekar

Early out this morning after my "standard" breakfast (meaning 'breaking the fast' of the night) of coffee, mangos and croissants, we headed two hours outside Dakar to Mboro to visit the Center for Educational Research and Promotion of Children of Mboro (school for children ages 5-18 that would otherwise not go to school because of poverty, handicap, family situation, etc). Also, many of the kids are from surrounding Marabou schools (islamic education)-Marabouts are highly respected in Senegal. They are revered as much for their religious stature as their political and moral stronghold over Senegalese politicians and the general public. The custom of sending children away to be educated by marabouts is a cultural and religious practice that goes back to the 7th and 8th centuries when Islam was first introduced to the country. Traditionally parents offered their children to Marabouts up to the age of 18 for an Islamic education. But over the last few decades, the system has eroded. The kids are known as talibés or Koranic students. In this predominantly Muslim West African country, it is a word that, over the years, has become synonymous with child beggars. They are the kids spotted loitering in traffic and roaming big city neighborhoods, often barefoot and in tattered clothing. They beg for money which is then brought back to their marabout. Traditionally in Islam, begging was considered a way to instill humility. In some cases, children who do not bring back their daily "quota" are beaten by the "teachers".

The leaders of this program have been extremely successful in helping these children fold into the regular school system. In fact, students that are able to transfer often end up as top students in the regular school system. Check out their website to learn more!

We then traveled to the vocational school where they teach skills in welding, pottery, agriculture, beekeeping, masonry and other trades, the International Center  for practical Training of Mboro.

 After lunch we visited a community health group which helps to educate the community about ways to prevent disease and other health problems. These are all volunteers from the community and university interns.

On our way to Thies, the van we were traveling in got a flat tire (glad we weren't on the highway at the time) so we hailed some cabs which took us all to our next visit with UGPR (supported by RADI- see earlier blog). UGPR is an organization of women which has spread throughout the region- focused on women's rights and support for women's independence.